gel.setter top coat

Definitely my all time, personal favorite top coat. It’s thick and easy to apply. It dries fast, has a nice hard layer which helps my nails not to snag or break, and gives a nice shine.

I'm sure there are a million good products out there for nail/cuticle care. But for me, the most important thing is convenience...I won't use something that takes several steps or that you have to paint on. With this little tube from essie, it sits in the pencil cup on my desk where I can grab it once or twice a day, squeeze out a drop on each nail [I personally don't use the roller], rub it in and that's it. It's barely greasy, soaks right into my nails and has really helped keep my nails and cuticles hydrated. I've been using it consistently for 3 weeks now...my nails aren't paper-thin and peeling anymore and the tube still looks full. Highly recommend!

Great top coat. Dries quickly. Works well with Essie polish

This is my only base + top coat so far. It brings out the color of my oil base nail polish. It looks blue but goes on my nail transparent. The only problem of this is that it will stay STICKY for the whole night or even the next day. I use hairdryer to blow dry it a little but still. When it is sticky and wet, the smell is almost unbearable (only 8-free so). Other than that, it’s pretty useful and satisfying.

As a big fan of Essie products, I purchased Essie's Gel Setter top coat in 2015; when I initially tried it, I didn't love it, and didn't think it was any better than others (Essie's Good to Go top coat has always been a favorite). I've kept it with my nail polish supplies, however, and have tried it periodically.Fast forward to late September 2017, when two minor changes to my nail polish routine have COMPLETELY changed my mind about this top coat, which is rapidly becoming my new favorite! With this new routine, I find that I can regularly get a full 7-10 days out of my manicure with no (or nearly no) chipping; this is especially true if I reapply the top coat 4-5 days after my initial manicure. It really does do a great job of mimicking a shiny salon gel manicure, without the damage and removal hassle that can come with gel polishes.So what's my routine?1. After my cuticles are pushed back/trimmed (I love the CND CuticleAway Gel for this) and my nails are filed/buffed, I wash my hands thoroughly with soap and water, scrubbing with a nail brush.2. After drying my hands, I use acetone or alcohol to clean my nails, ensuring that there's no soap or lotion residue on the nail surface.3. I apply one quick coat of OPI's Bond Aid to my clean natural nails; this dries almost instantly, and is a huge help with polish adhesion.4. I apply one coat of Essie's Grow Stronger Base Coat to my nails, and let dry for about a minute. This is the first of the two changes I made recently, and changing to this base coat has made a world of difference in terms of preventing chips.5. I apply two coats of regular Essie polish (in whatever color suits my mood - generally, it's Mademoiselle if I'm going light, or Wicked or Carry On if I want a darker color). I wait about 30 seconds between coats.6. I finish my manicure with one coat of Essie Gel-Setter Top Coat.7. I then let my nails air dry - NOT UNDER A DRYER - for about 15 minutes. This is the second change I made to my routine. If my nails are not dry by this time, I then use a standard nail dryer fan (with UV lamp) for regular polish (not a gel dryer) to finish drying my nails. This gives the polish layers some time to cure, and ensures that bubbles don't form.I've attached a picture of my most recent regular manicure (I am wearing Essie's Mademoiselle) using the routine described above, taken after four days of wear. I have not reapplied the top coat. It's maintained its super shiny finish, and so far, I have no chips or lifting - and I've been using my keyboard constantly, and have done dishes and used antibacterial wipes and other cleaning products on various surfaces (with no gloves). Hope this is helpful!I paid FULL price for this product, and have not been given any discounts or incentives in exchange for leaving my review.

This is one of the best cuticle oils that I have found. i have a few. by bed, by chair in family room, in bathroom, in purse and one in my desk. Good smell, not strong. In health care and hands are in gloves, and washed alot, but this really has helped my nails and cuticles.

The best top coat i have ever used. Better than mooncat, seche vite, etc. It self levels accidental dents, has no shrinkage and dries fast.

I like that this polish work as both a base and top coat. I love that Essie is vegan and 8 free as well. It’s affordable compared to other companies that sell vegan ‘X amount free’ nail polishes and products. This bottle while last me a long time so that’s awesome! It gives your nails a shiny top coat and would even work on its own without a polish to give your natural nails a bit of a shine.I do have to say that I hate the way it smells. It filled the whole room the instant the cap came off. I am extremely sensitive to smells so the experience was a bit over stimulating. I even wear a mask while painting my nails to try and avoid the smells but this polish permeated everything. Once the cap was back on, the scent calmed down. So thankfully only one coat is needed before and after the color polish.Edit:It’s been over a week since I painted my toes and there is no chipping. They still look great and are holding up nicely.I painted my finger nails 3 days ago and 2 of my nails have chipped badly and a third has just started chipping. I updated my rating to a 3 star due to this.The polish works great for toes but not so great for fingers